BMW X7 vs Subaru Outback
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Subaru Outback scores higher, 76 vs 68
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 11 Sep 2026, price 29 Jul 2026
BMW X7
25 of 27 standard · 1 optional · 1 no dataFrom
$174,900
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Diesel
- Engine
- Diesel
- Power
- 259kW
- Economy
- 8.1 L/100kmWLTP test cycle, not directly comparable with ADR 81/02 figures
- Safety
- ANCAP hasn't rated this model
- Boot (seats up)
- 750L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Subaru Outback
18 of 27 standard · no option data · 9 no dataFrom
$48,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 137kW
- Economy
- 8.1 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2021
- Boot (seats up)
- 530L
Top CarSorted Score, 76 vs 68
Subaru Australia offer: bonus, $850 toward your deposit. Terms
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Manufacturer offer
No end date printed
$850 Fitted Accessories
Offer from Subaru Australia, checked 9 Nov 2026
T&Cs apply, as the maker prints them. Eligibility, stock and build limits vary, so confirm the offer with the dealer.
$174,900RRP
- with the Subaru Outback's standard kit: $174,900 (nothing to add)
$48,990RRP
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Fuel figures here come from different test cycles (BMW X7: WLTP; Subaru Outback: ADR 81/02), so they are not compared like-for-like and no fuel winner is shown.
Price and cost per week
BMW X7 xDrive40d
$174,900
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $786 a week in repayments ($174,900 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Subaru Outback AWD
$48,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 29 July 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $203 a week in repayments ($48,990 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Subaru Outback starts $125,910 lower on RRP.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$203/wk(≈$881/mo)
Estimate on the Subaru Outback at $48,990 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW X7Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP's published ratings include no record for the BMW X7. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 9 of 10 key systems on the BMW X7 and 6 on the Subaru Outback.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
BMW X7
- REC-006090 · published 2 Oct 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, a component of the brake booster system may have been incorrectly welded and could break.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2024
- REC-005906 · published 5 Mar 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, signal interference may occur within the electronics of the brake system.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2023
- REC-000132 · published 10 Jun 2021Due to a manufacturing fault in the hydraulic unit brake booster, panic braking could cause loss of brake power assistance and the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) without prior warning.Year range on the notice: 2019 - 2020
- 1 more on the model page.
Subaru Outback
- REC-005831 · published 20 Nov 2023The front drive shaft may not meet manufacturing specifications and the outer race of the front driveshaft may crack.Year range on the notice: 2023
- REC-005485 · published 3 Aug 2022Due to a manufacturing issue, the Electronic Park Brake (EPB) adaptor cord connector may not operate as intended.Year range on the notice: 2015 - 2018
- REC-001697 · published 24 Aug 2021The fuel pump impeller may not meet manufacturing specifications, as a result it may become deformed.Year range on the notice: 2018 - 2019
- 11 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Feature Showdown
The BMW X7 features a 14.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Subaru Outback gets a 12.1-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The BMW X7 stands out with head-up display, wireless charging, Harman Kardon audio and ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the Subaru Outback. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the BMW X7 gets vernasca leather upholstery while the Subaru Outback offers synthetic leather. Climate control is 4-zone in the BMW X7 and 2-zone in the Subaru Outback.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The BMW X7 uses a Diesel producing 259kW and 720Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.9 seconds.
The Subaru Outback responds with a Petrol making 137kW and 254Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels.
The BMW X7 has the clear power advantage at 259kW vs 137kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The BMW X7 measures 5,181mm long on a 3,105mm wheelbase, 301mm longer than the Subaru Outback at 4,880mm (2,745mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW X7 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 750L in the BMW X7 and 530L in the Subaru Outback, giving the BMW X7 a 220L advantage. The BMW X7 seats 7 vs 5.
For towing, the BMW X7 leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 2,000kg. That 1,500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Subaru Outback's turning circle is 2.0 m tighter, 11.1 m against 13.1 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the BMW X7 costs about $2,309 a year (8.1 L/100km) and fuel for the Subaru Outback about $2,309 a year (8.1 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (BMW X7) and 5 years / Unlimited (Subaru Outback). Capped-price servicing: no data (BMW X7), 5 years (Subaru Outback).
Where each one leads
The BMW X7: more power (259kW against 137kW), the bigger boot with the seats up (750L against 530L) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 2,000kg).
The Subaru Outback: the lower starting price ($48,990 against $174,900).
The Verdict
Subaru Outback scores higher, 76 vs 68
The Subaru Outback scores 76 to the BMW X7's 68 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 1 of the 4 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: performance (BMW X7 ahead by 43 points), value (Subaru Outback ahead by 34 points), safety (Subaru Outback ahead by 29 points). Boot space with the seats up: 750L in the BMW X7, 530L in the Subaru Outback.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$203/wk(≈$881/mo)
Estimate on the Subaru Outback at $48,990 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW X7Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, BMW X7 and Subaru Outback?
The Subaru Outback is the cheapest at $48,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the BMW X7 by $125,910.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Subaru Outback holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2021). ANCAP's published ratings include no record for BMW X7, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The BMW X7 has the largest boot at 750L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The BMW X7 has the highest braked towing capacity at 3,500kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The BMW X7 makes the most power at 259kW.
Track the BMW X7 & Subaru Outback
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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